Display form or mannequin



' Feb. 25, 1958 s. GOLDSMITH DISPLAY FORM OR MANNEQUIN INVENTOR. 5AM sows/mm Filed Sept. 2'7, 1954 ATTORNE Y United States Patent 6 DISPLAY FORM R MANNEQUIN Sam Goldsmith, Malverne, N. Y. Application September 27, 1954, Serial No. 458,578

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 223-68).

This invention relates generally to a display form or mannequin, and has particular reference to a device which simulates the human body and which is intended primarily for use in store windows and the like, to support and display women's garments.

It is desirable that display forms of this general character be adjustable to some degree in order to enhance their utility. For example, it may be desirable, for the sake of symmetry of display, to have a pair of display forms face each other, or substantially so. In another display it may be desirable to have them face in opposite directions, or in the same direction, or straight ahead. It is obvious, therefore, that the adjustable feature above mentioned has distinct advantages in that a single dis play form of the type herein described according to my invention lends itself to a variety of uses which could not otherwise be obtained unless one resorts to the use of several different display forms. Such adjustability has been accomplished to some extent by making the form in two sections, the separation being substantially at the waist. It is desirable also that there be a smooth continuity of surface contour at the juncture of the two sections in order to permit a garment to hang and fit properly and attractively.

It is known in the prior art to construct a display mannequin in separate upper and lower sections, joined together by means of a universal ball and socket joint which includes an upright slotted adjusting member. Such construction, however, involves certain disadvantages. For example, adjustment of the bust section relative to the torso section is capable only in a forward or rearward direction. Also, the desirable smooth continuity of contour cannot be maintained, due to unavoidable separation between sections.

In another known construction, the two sections are formed at their cooperating ends with complementary parts, one concave and the other convex. While this arrangement permits the necessary freedom of movement in various directions, here also the desirable smooth continuity of contour cannot be maintained without resorting to the use of special means, such as a band of stretchable material which must be attached to one of the sections for encircling the joint between sections to thereby effect such continuity.

Accordingly, it is an important object of my invention to provide a two-sectioned display form which is so constructed and arranged as to permit a multiplicity of adjustable positions between the two sections and yet maintain a perfectly smooth continuity of surface contour.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display mannequin formed in two sections which terminate substantially at the waist in closure members, which are circular in shape, have planar congruent surfaces inclined rearwardly and downwardly, and which are pivotally joined by simple interlocking means to thereby permit angular displacement of one section with respect to the other about a vertical axis, without disturbing the pertectly smooth continuity of the outer surface contour.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a mannequin which is sturdy in construction, made of a minimum of parts, and is economical to manufacture.

I achieve the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, vpartly in section, of a mannequin or display form embodying 0 the features of my present invention;

Figs. 2a and 2b are plan and side views, respectively, of one of the coupling means forming the closure member for the upper or bust section of the display form;

Figs. 3a and 3b are plan and side views, respectively, of the other coupling means forming the closure member for the lower or torso section of the display form;

Figs. 4a and 4b are plan and side views, respectively, of the two closure members shown in Figs. 2b and 3b in assembled or cooperative relation;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation showing one position of relative adjustment between the bust and torso sections; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a second position of adjustment which is complementary to that shown in Fig. 5. 7

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters in the several figures denote similar elements, there is shown in Fig. l a display device or mannequin which comprises an upper or bust section 1 and a separate lower or torso section 2.

line 3 which is inclined rearwardly and downwardly. The degree of inclination may be only a few degrees with respect to the horizontal which is represented by the dash line 4 and may be varied in the course of manufacture to suit the needs of the customer.

As well known to those skilled in the art, display forms of the type herein described are in the form of hollow bodies, thewalls of which are composed of a lightweight material such as papier-mache. As shown in Fig. 1 the sections 1 and 2 are provided at their respective open ends with complementary closure members 5 and 6 which are made circular in shape (Figs. 2a and 3a) for a purpose hereinafter to appear. Each closure member 5 and 6 is provided with a peripheral flange 7 and 8, respectively, whereby the member may be snugly fitted to the respective open ends of the two sections.

The upper closure member 5, as shown in Figs. 2a and 2b, is provided with a central aperture 9 having a pair of diametrically opposed channels or keyways 1i) and 11. The lower closure member 6, as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, is provided with a central post 12, suitably attached to the upper surface thereof, as by means of screws 13. Extending transversely through the post near the top thereof and frictionally held therein is a pin 14, the opposite ends of which extend slightly beyond the post as shown at 15 and 16.

In assembling the two sections of the display form, the upper section is placed over the lower section, so that post 12 is aligned with opening 9 and with the pin extension 15 and 16, aligned with the keyways 10 and 11. The upper section is then lowered onto the lower section to the position shown in Fig. 4b. The pin extensions are spaced from the upper surface of closure member 6 a distance equal to the thickness of closure member 5, so that after the two closure members are initially positioned, a slight rotational movement of the upper member will interlock the two members as shown in Fig. 4a.

In the view shown in Fig. 1, the bust section 1 is so positioned with respect to section 2 that its vertical axis Patented, Feb. 25, 1958 I It, I will be observed that each section terminates substantially at the waist in a plane represented by the dot-and-dash represented by the dot-and-dash line 17 is normal to the horizontal plane represented by the dash line 4. By means of the construction herein described, the bust section 1 is capable of adjustment to a-multiplicity ofpositions in a simple and convenient manner. This is accomplished by merely grasping the bust section between the palms of the hands and rotating it varying amounts to suit the requirements of the user.

In the view shown in Fig. 5 the bust section has been rotated in a clockwise direction, while in the view shown in Fig. 6 the bust section has been rotated in a counterclockwise direction. For purpose of explanation, the circumferential edges of the upper and lower closure members have been marked withthe identifying marks x and y, respectively. In the position shown in Fig. 1 the marks would be aligned. In the position shown in Fig. 5 the upper closure member has been rotated in a clockwise direction to move the mark to the positionshown, displaced somewhat to the left with respect to the mark y. In this position it Will be observed that the imaginary vertical, axis 17 is inclined forwardly and to the left as seen by the viewer, the bust section assuming a corresponding position. In the position shown in Fig. 6 the upper closure member has been rotated in theopposite or counterclockwise direction to move the mark x to the position shown, displaced somewhat to the right with respect to the mark y. In this position it will be observed the vertical axis is inclined forwardly and to the right as seen by the viewer, with the bust section assuming a corresponding position.

less of the degree of relative rotation between sections 1 and 2, there is maintained a smooth continuity of surface contour at the junction of said sections. This is possible by reason of the circular contour of the closure members. Furthermore, by having the congruent surfaces of the closure members disposed in a plane inclined rearwardly and downwardly, it is possible to more nearly maintain the actual contour of the human form in the vicinity of the waist, than if the congruent surfaces were disposed in a horizontal plane. Also, the inclined congruent surfaces make it possible to effect the many dilferent attitudes assumed by the bust with respect to the torso, two of which are shown in Figs. 5 and 6, attitudes which are not attainable with congruent surfaces disposed in a horizontal plane.

While I have described a preferred embodimenn'it will be understood by those skilled in the art that minor varia- It will be apparent from above description that regardv tions can be made without departing from thespin't of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A display form conforming to the general contours of the human figure, comprising a hollow upper bust section and a separate hollow lower torso section, said sections terminating substantially, at the waist and in a 1 plane inclined from the vertical axis of the form, a pair of circular closure plates, ione..for each 'ofsaidtsections, and means carried by the respective closure plates for interlocking the 'two sectionsso'thatthe closure plates are in contacting-relation and' in parallel iplanes inclined from the vertical axis of the form, the construction being such that upon 'angulardisplacements to varying degrees of the bust section about its vertical axis with respect to the torso section, the bust section assumes a multiplicity of different attitudes of inclination with respect to the'torso section while there is retained at all position are disposed in parallel planes inclined rearwardly and downwardly when viewed from the front of the display form 4. A display'form 1as defined in claim 1, wherein the interlocking means is constituted by a central post at- .tached mom of .the closure plates, the other closure plate being provided with -a central aperture through which the post is adapted to extend, a pin extending transversely throughthe post in a plane parallel to the surface of the closure plate to which it is attached and :spaced from said surface a distance equal to 'the thickness of said other closure plate, and a pair of diametric slots formedv in said centrahaperture to permit the passage of the pin extensions when the two sections of the display form are assembled.

References Cited in the file of this patent 1UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,081,071 "Scovil' et al. May 18, 1937 2,458,917 'Prisco Jan. 11, 1949 2,603,392 Costa July 15, 1952 

